Grease-gun attachment



A. J. WOOD.

GREASE GUN ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED MAY10.1918- Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

x5 4 IIIII 1mm:

i Z000 F79. I M a,

A. WOOD, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

GREASE-GUN ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Application filed May 10, 1918. Serial No. 233,655.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. J. Wool), a citizen of the United States of America, residing at -Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and or distributer, ordinarily, in pails of certain sizes and capacities, and heretofore it has.

been a custom to either take the grease direct from the pail by means of a paddle or the like and carry it to the place where it is to be used; or the grease has been removed from the receptacle and placed in another receptacle equipped with grease dispensing means; while in some instances, a grease gun is inserted at its open end in the grease within the pail or receptacle as delivered by the manufacturer or distributer, the gun bevice which may be used direct with the re-- ceptacle containing the grease as it is distributed to the user of the same, being particularly effective for removing all of the grease from the receptacle without danger or likelihood of any personal contact therewith.

and constructions embodying the same, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a grease receptacle having my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan andpartial section, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different views of the drawing. The receptacle 1 adapted to contain rease, is of cylindrical form, preferably, an has a For an understanding of the invention bottom 2, the upper end as received from the manufacturer being closed by any suitable cover, not shown in the drawing. The grease is shipped or delivered in receptacles of this character and after receipt, the dispensing device is used to remove and dispense the grease therefrom. In the preferred form this dispensing device comprises a follower plate 3, preferably, of sheet metal and of a size to go within. the receptacle 1, onthe under side and around the outer edges of which a ring 1 of felt or other similar material is secured, the same being of a size to bear closely against the inner walls of the receptacle 1 as shown. The central portion of the plate 3 is stamped to form a central upperextension 5 in which a central openmg is made to which extension a cylindrical barrel 6 is permanentl secured in any suitable manner, the interior of the barrel com- The barrel passes loosely through a second raised portion 7 which is stamped cen trally in a cover 8 which may seat tightly on the upperend of the grease receptacle, any suitable form of friction connection be tween the cover and the receptacle being used. The barrel passes through a locking plate 9 located immediately above the part 7 of the cover, and is attached to a spring member 10, fastened as shown to cover 8, it belng apparent. that upward movement of the barrel and attached plate 3 is guarded against by the lockingplate 9, while downward movement of the barrel through said plate is freely permitted. The opening through the plate 9 is but very little larger than the outer diameter of the barrel 6, so that when said plate 9 is moved to angular position under the influence of the spring 10, 1t grips the sides of the barrel to hold the same against upward movement.

A hollow cap 11 having a lateral outlet portion 12 is secured to the upper end of the barrel 6, and any suitable form of flexible conduit, such as a hose 13, is connected with the outlet member 12, as shown, there cap 11 and limit the downward movement of the piston 15 to a point somewhat below the lower end of the barrel 6 and within the portion 5 of the follower plate 3. Any suitable form of packing, such as indicated at 18, may be placed around the rod 14 in the upper portion of the cap 11 to preclude the entrance of air. The upper end of the barrel is crimped inwardly, as indicated at 19, restricting the opening somewhat, in which opening a check valve 20 is positioned, the same always being held normally in lower position by a coil spring 21 of limited stren h so as to readily compress and permit. elevation of the valve during the operation of the device as will later be described.

In operation the follower plate being placed against the grease in the receptacle 1, the piston is forced to its lowermost position and, with the hose 13 filled with grease, and air kept from entering around the rod 14 where itpasses through the cap'll, a vacuum is produced in the barrel 6 such that as soon as the piston 15 passes below the lower end of the barrel, grease is drawn around the piston 15 into the barrel. On the upward stroke of the piston, such grease is forced .past the valve 20 into the hose 13 forcing out the grease which is in the hose ahead of it, as will be obvious. The entrance of grease into the barrelis aided by any downward pressure which may be exerted on the apparatus and transmitted by the follower plate 3 to the grease, and in fact it requires but a' very few strokes of the piston even when no greaseis in the hose 13 .to get the apparatus working in perfect condition. The check valve 20 is not a particularly essential or necessary part of the construction as the friction of the grease a ainst the inner walls of the hose 13 is su cient in most instances, particularly with heavy reases,; to stop any backward movement 0 the grease into the barrel 6 on the downward stroke of the piston. However, for the best work of the apparatus under all conditions and with all types and grades of greases, the presence of the check valve is advisable.

As the grease is dispensed and taken from the receptacle 1 the follower plate 3 follows the same closely down into the receptacle,

thebarrel 6 going with the same and pass ing freely through the locking plate 9. The

.tendency for the barrel to raise with the upward stroke of the piston is stopped by the locking plate 9, but if a suflicient downwardforce is applied to the cap. 11, as by the foot or hand of the operator, it is not necessary for operation of the mechanism to have the locking plate 9 at all. However, this plate dispenses with the necessity of applying force to the cap 11 to keep the follower plate from lifting, though in any event the air pressure against the follower plate is nearly if not quite suflicient to keep it from elevation to any marked extent.

With this apparatus all of the grease may be removed .from the receptacle, the follower plate stopping only when it hits the bottom of the receptacle. There is no possibility of air working into the dispensing apparatus, the ring of packing material 4 bearing against the inner walls of the receptacle 1 andcompletely barring the ,entrance of air under the follower plate 3. This construction is of simple character,

requires but few and inexpensive parts, may 1 come in contact with the outside of the barrel 6, or any other part of the apparatus which may be handled by the. user, thus rendering the apparatus especially cleanly m use.

This device is adapted to handle greases I of different consistencies from the heaviest cup greases to the lightest greasesused in transmission or differentials. It has been thoroughly tested and tried out in actual practice and works perfectly for the attainment of the ends desired.

I claim:

1. In combination with a receptacle adapted to hold grease, a follower plate having an opening therein and adapted to lie against the grease in said receptacle, a barrel secured to the follower plate at the opening therein, a piston in the barrel, means for moving the piston. back and forth the barrel and to a point below the barrel, and an outlet member at the upper end of'the barrel through which rease may be ejected, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a receptacle adapted to hold grease, a follower plate adapted to lie against grease in said receptacle, said plate having a raised central portion in which an opening is made, a barrel secured to the plate at said opening therein, an outlet member secured at the upper end of the barrel, a piston in the barrel, a rod attached to the plston and extending upwardly through said outlet member, said rod when lower plate having anopening therethroughand of a size to enter a grease holding receptacle, a ring of fabric material secured at the edges of said plate, a grease dispensing device including a barrel fixed at its lower end to the plate at the opening therein, means included in said dispensing device. for removing grease from below said follower plate through the barrel and ejecting it at the upper end of the barrel, and a cover adapted to closethe upper end of the receptacle through which the barrel loosely passes. 4

4. A device adapted to be applied to grease holdin receptacles comprising a follower plate ofa size to enter a grease hold.-

, ing receptacle, said plate having an opening therein, and a grease dispensing device associated with said follower plate, including a barrel having an open lower end to enter the opening in the, plate, and means in said barrel operable to draw grease from below the follower plate into the barrel and a conduit connected to the upper endof the barrel throughwhich the grease may be ejected, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, a vertical barrel provided at. its lower end with an enlarged portion, a piston in the barrel, means for moving the piston up and a vertical barrel, a piston snugly fitting the barrel, means for moving the piston up and down in the barrel, an outlet at the upper end of the barrel, means automatically closing said outlet on downward. movement of the piston whereby there is produced a vacuum above the piston in the barrel on said downward movement, and means -whereby the lower end of the barrel is opened as the piston approaches its lowermost position to permit passage of material past the piston to relieve said vacuum, said material being forced out through said outlet on the upward movement of the piston, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my si ature.

- A. J. .W OD. 

